Tradescantia plant named ‘DRATRA01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Tradescantia  plant named ‘DRATRA01’ which is characterized by glossy ovate foliage born on glossy greyed-purple stems, foliage with a dark-green adaxial surface and a dark purple abaxial surface, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Tradescantia spathacea.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Tradescantia disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘DRATRA01’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2020/0361, filed Feb. 4, 2020, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘DRATRA01’ is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of anunnamed Tradescantia spathacea plant (not patented) which was discoveredat a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands in May of2019. The mutation was initially noted to exhibit shorter and broader,ovate foliage with a dark green upper surface and a dark purple lowersurface. The mutated branch was harvested from the parent plant, rooted,and grown to a mature size for further evaluation to confirm theuniformity and stability of the unique characteristics first observed.Upon confirmation of the stability and uniformity of thecharacteristics, the new plant was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘DRATRA01’ is accomplishedby way of rooting stem cuttings. Propagation was first performed in Mayof 2019 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, theNetherlands. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features ofthis cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DRATRA01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘DRATRA01’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘DRATRA01’ as a new and distinct Tradescantia spathaceacultivar:

-   -   1. Tradescantia ‘DRATRA01’ exhibits short and broad ovate        foliage born on glossy dark greyed-purple stems; and    -   2. Tradescantia ‘DRATRA01’ exhibits foliage with a glossy, dark        green adaxial surface; and    -   3. Tradescantia ‘DRATRA01’ exhibits foliage with a glossy, dark        purple abaxial surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘DRATRA01’ grown in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. This plant, grown ina 11 cm nursery container, is approximately 12 months old from a rootedyoung plant; and

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical adaxial foliarsurface of ‘DRATRA01’; and

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical abaxial foliarsurface foliage of ‘DRATRA01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in November of 2020,describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12-month-old‘DRATRA01’ plants in 11 cm nursery pots, with 3 rooted cuttings per pot,grown in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Tradescantia sp. whichconsisted of growing under shade, regular overhead irrigation andregular fertigation, and chemical control of thrips insects. Nophotoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘DRATRA01’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘DRATRA01’ and comparisons with the parentplant and most similar commercial Tradescantia cultivar known to theinventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad, upright herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant profile.—Broad ovate to broad obovate.        -   Height.—23.9 cm.        -   Width.—Average of 19.4 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Method — Asexual propagation is accomplished by            stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots — Approximately 30            days are required to initiate roots at 20 degrees Celsius.        -   Time to produce a marketable 12 cm potted            plant.—Approximately 12 to 16 weeks. Pinching will increase            lateral branching.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of            Tradescantia spathacea have been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10            through 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain and low to moderate tolerance to            wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Slightly fibrous and non-fleshy; moderately            branched and moderately dense rooting.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm, on average.        -   Texture.—Densely covered with very short root hairs.        -   Color.—Greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156C.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching characteristics.—Basally branched, with two main            stems as observed. Main stems occasionally with lateral            branches.        -   Attitude.—Upright; approximately 22.5 degrees from vertical.        -   Main stems.—Quantity — 2 per plant; 6 as observed in an 11            cm pot with 3 rooted cuttings per pot. Length — 16.2 cm.            Diameter — 0.6 cm. Internode length — 1.4 cm with leaves            mostly placed on the distal portion of the stem. Color,            developing stem — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C yet            slightly darker. Color, mature stem — Nearest to in between            greyed-purple and brown, RHS N186C and 200B, and suffused            with yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A yet slightly darker.            Color at the internodes — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS            N186C. Oldest wood — Brown, nearest to RHS 200A.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity — 1 per plant, on average; 2 as            observed in an 11 cm pot with 3 rooted cuttings per pot.            Strength — Strong. Aspect — Rounded. Stem texture —            Glabrous; smooth. Stem luster — Glossy. Color, developing            branches — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C yet slightly            darker. Color, mature branches — Nearest to in between            greyed-purple and brown, RHS N186C and 200B, and suffused            with yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A yet slightly darker.            Color at the internodes — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS            N186C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attitude.—Foliage near the apex is held upright to outward            and becomes progressively more relaxed towards the base.        -   Number of leaves per main stem.—6.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 12.9 cm long and 4.8 cm wide. Shape —            Ovate. Aspect — Very slightly carinate. Apex — Apiculate.            Base — Attenuate; ligulate. Ligule — Type — Ciliate. Cilia —            Length — 0.3 cm. Color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to a mixture            of RHS 161B and 161C. Length — 1.3 cm. Width — 0.6 cm. Color            — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182B. Veined greyed-purple,            nearest to RHS 183A. Margin — Entire; coarsely undulate.            Texture and luster of adaxial surface — Smooth, velutinous,            and glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface — Smooth,            slightly velutinous, and glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage,            adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between            purple and greyed-purple; RHS N79A and N186C, yet closer to            RHS N79A. Leaf tip is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146A.            Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between            green and greyed-green; RHS 139A and N189A, yet closer to            N189A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Purple; nearest to            RHS N79A yet slightly darker. Leaf tip is yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147A. Venation — Pattern — Parallel. Color,            adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and            greyed-green; RHS 139A and N189A, yet closer to N189A.            Color, abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and            yellow-green, RHS 143A and 144B.-   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed.-   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRATRA01’ may be distinguished from theparent, an unnamed Tradescantia spathacea plant (not patented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘DRATRA01’ The parent. Foliage size. Smaller thanthe Larger than ‘DRATRA01’. parent. General coloration A darker shade ofLighter shade of green of the mature green relative to relative to‘DRATRA01’. adaxial foliar the parent. surface. Leaf shape. Ovate.Lanceolate.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DRATRA01’ may be distinguished from theclosest known commercial comparator, Tradescantia spathacea ‘SatiraGold’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,917), by the characteristics described inTable 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘DRATRA01' ‘Satira Gold’ Growth habit. Moreupright than More compact than ‘Satira Gold’. ‘DRATRA01’. Plant profile.Broad ovate to broad Globular. obovate. Foliage shape. Ovate. Broadlinear. Foliage length. Shorter than ‘Satira Longer than Gold’.‘DRATRA01’. General coloration in between green and Light yellow-greenof the mature greyed-green, generally with darker green adaxial foliarappearing as a dark longitudinal striping. surface. green coloration.General coloration Dark purple. Light greyed-purple of the mature withviolet longitudinal abaxial foliar striping. surface.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Tradescantia plant named ‘DRATRA01’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 